Sleeping in her car to escape the violence in her home, Claire Smith (not her real name) realised her situation was desperate enough to turn to a women's shelter. But the idea of having to explain to someone that she was running from her female partner stopped her.

Activists say domestic violence in the LGBTI community is under-reported, and there needs to be more appropriate and targeted support services for gay victims.

The Queensland Government has committed $155,000 towards training frontline workers to better respond to domestic violence callouts in the LGBTI community. The funding would be used to create resources to support training across Queensland, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer said.

Phil Browne from the Brisbane LGBTIQ Action Group said there were many reasons gay people did not come forward to report domestic violence.

"We're all aware that domestic violence is quite an issue within the general community but it can be more so within the LGBTI community and it is under-reported," Mr Browne said. "Historically relations between LGBTI people and police have been quite chequered at times." Read more via ABC